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The Food and Drug Administration considers the whole horse chestnut to be an unsafe herb. Consuming the nuts or drinking a tea made from horse chestnut leaves can lead to horse chestnut poisoning. Such toxicity can lead to death, although individuals are more likely to experience side effects such as salivation, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, convulsions, a breakdown of red blood cells along with circulatory and respiratory failure. When properly prepared, horse chestnut products are safe to consume. This process generally involves standardized extract formulations to remove esculin, the most toxic component.

Flaxseed is a seed known for many medicinal uses and comes from the plant Linum usitatissimum. This tiny seed owes its health benefits to its low-carbohydrate and high-nutrient content. It is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, manganese, magnesium, dietary fiber and phytochemicals.

Sunflower seeds come from the sunflower (Helianthus annuus), which is a plant that has large bright yellow petals and a seed-filled center. The shells of the seeds are black with white or gray stripes, and contain edible seeds that are black or gray-green in color.

Chia seeds pack a nutritional punch. Smaller than a flax seed, chia contains twice the protein of most grains and more calcium than milk. Chia seeds are also rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which support heart and brain health, and are high in fiber and potassium.